Species

Sixteen shark species observed in the waters around Gibraltar. Tap any card to open the full field-guide entry.

Angel Shark

Angel Shark

Squatina squatina

Moderately

A flattened, ray-like ambush predator that lies buried in sandy seabeds.

1.2–2.1 mOpen guide
Basking Shark

Basking Shark

Cetorhinus maximus

Not

The world's second-largest fish — a gentle giant that filter-feeds on plankton.

7–9.1 mOpen guide
Bigeye Thresher Shark

Bigeye Thresher Shark

Alopias superciliosus

Not

Identified by enormous upward-facing eyes and a tail nearly as long as the body.

3.4–4.9 mOpen guide
Blue Shark

Blue Shark

Prionace glauca

Not

Slender, indigo-blue oceanic shark — one of the most wide-ranging vertebrates on Earth.

1.8–3.4 mOpen guide
Common Thresher Shark

Common Thresher Shark

Alopias vulpinus

Not

A powerful pelagic shark with a sickle-shaped upper tail used as a hunting weapon.

3.7–5.5 mOpen guide
Copper Shark

Copper Shark

Carcharhinus brachyurus

Not

Also known as the bronze whaler — a robust, coppery-grey requiem shark.

3.4–3.7 mOpen guide
Great White Shark

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Highly

The largest predatory fish in the ocean — apex predator of temperate seas.

3.4–4.9 mOpen guide
Longfin Mako Shark

Longfin Mako Shark

Isurus paucus

Not

Rarer cousin of the shortfin mako, with extremely long pectoral fins.

3.7–4.3 mOpen guide
Nursehound Shark

Nursehound Shark

Scyliorhinus stellaris

Not

A handsomely spotted catshark of rocky reefs and seagrass meadows.

1.3–1.6 mOpen guide
Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Carcharhinus longimanus

Highly

Stocky open-ocean shark with distinctive white-tipped, paddle-like fins.

3–4 mOpen guide
Porbeagle Shark

Porbeagle Shark

Lamna nasus

Not

A stocky, warm-blooded mackerel shark that thrives in cooler Atlantic waters.

1.8–3.7 mOpen guide
Sand Tiger Shark

Sand Tiger Shark

Carcharias taurus

Not

Fearsome-looking but docile coastal shark with prominent ragged teeth.

2.1–3 mOpen guide
Shortfin Mako Shark

Shortfin Mako Shark

Isurus oxyrinchus

Highly

The fastest shark in the ocean, capable of bursts over 70 km/h.

2–2.9 mOpen guide
Small Spotted Catshark

Small Spotted Catshark

Scyliorhinus canicula

Not

The most commonly seen shark on Gibraltar's reefs — small, slender and harmless.

0.8–0.9 mOpen guide
Smooth Hammerhead Shark

Smooth Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna zygaena

Not

The largest hammerhead found in temperate waters, with a smoothly curved head.

2.4–3.7 mOpen guide
Spiny Dogfish

Spiny Dogfish

Squalus acanthias

Not

A small, schooling shark with mildly venomous spines in front of each dorsal fin.

0.8–1.1 mOpen guide

Sources & Citations

Data compiled from peer-reviewed and authoritative open sources. Last reviewed 2026.